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So I've been continuing to play Starcraft but I have been using a completely different setup now. I went to some garage sales last weekend and bought a monitor and a computer desk. This is a real improvement in the setup I've been using which is a just a laptop with a wireless mouse. There is a picture of my new setup below.
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The monitor is a Compaq P1220 if anyone wants to know. The desk and the monitor together cost me $22 and it was well worth it. The keyboard is an extra that I had lying around.
As for my Starcraft update I've still been practicing PvP with just that one build I mentioned in my last blog post. I've been only playing Python since its the map of the week, and I will occasionally do a two gate build were I pressure hard with zealots if my opponent and I are in the closest spawning positions and they are doing a one gate tech build. Through my efforts I have finally risen to a D ranking (probably because all of the players that are not D- or D have gotten at least D+ by now). Also my APM is now around 90 to 100 on average and I have broken 100 in a couple of games. To anyone who is trying to raise their APM I just suggest that you just continue to play. I started playing Starcraft again about three weeks ago and my APM has went from 60 to around 100.
Since I've only been playing PvP I've really started to notice that the early/mid game of this match up is all based around timing and what build the players open up with. Example: Your opponent goes one gate tech to reavers and you go three gate goon with observers. You have an opening to deal some serious damage during the time your opponent either has no reavers or one reaver, especially if they have just taken their natural. However, once your opponent gets two reavers they now have the advantage because of their superior tech and their ability to harass.
It appears though that in this match up once everyone has the same tech (temple of achieves and robotics bay with observers and reavers) it comes down to who has the better macro and micro. Once again, these observations about PvP are just what I have observed, and are not necessarily correct.
I've been noticing how alot of players will move back the goon that is getting the majority of fire to the back line so that it will still fire but the goons will fire at a different goon with full health. I really need to start implementing this. You have no idea how many times I have lost a battle because of this trick, now I just need to figure out how to do it effectively. If anyone has any tips on doing this that would be great.
And finally, Liquipedia is the best thing ever.
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16934 Posts
Don't be too sure on the D+ thing. Many previous D+ players are still in the D ranks.
Also, don't even worry about APM at the moment. Just make good decisions, keep up your macro, and realistically, that's pretty much all you need for a long time. At this stage, macro and economy are way more important than micro is. I'd suggest (and it seems like you're doing this) doing the same safe, conservative builds over and over. For example, a PvP 2 gate goon>robo>expo build.
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There really sin't a difference between D+ and D. You can spam your way up to any rank AND you can bash a bunch of noobs to your rank. Therefore it's safe to say treat every player and play your very best. It doesn't matter who you beat, who you play, and what you do as long as you have fun and learn shit
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Wait so you have both a desktop and a laptop?
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On June 09 2009 04:52 R3condite wrote:
Wait so you have both a desktop and a laptop?
Don't most people?
Laptop for school desktop for gaming.
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If I were you, I would throw that keyboard away. Those keyboards are small and awkward, the keys are so tightly fitted together it is easy to depress additional keys and miss some when using it. Ugh.
I have that very same mousepad! It worked pretty great in the beginning, not sliding all over the place and everything... now, after a couple of months it is the same as all my other mousepads; it ends up on the floor if a match lasts more than 15 minutes.
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On June 09 2009 05:29 meathook wrote:
If I were you, I would throw that keyboard away. Those keyboards are small and awkward, the keys are so tightly fitted together it is easy to depress additional keys and miss some when using it. Ugh.
I have that very same mousepad! It worked pretty great in the beginning, not sliding all over the place and everything... now, after a couple of months it is the same as all my other mousepads; it ends up on the floor if a match lasts more than 15 minutes.
although i don't use that keyboards, my friend has one and i like them. the buttons are so silky smooth to press. i want one!
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To Empyrean, I'm honestly not too worried about my APM, I just think I should included it in order to show that you do not need to do some kind of exercise to increase your APM, even though they may be more effective for short periods of time. And to Racenilar about ranks, I'll remember that.
On June 09 2009 04:52 R3condite wrote:
Wait so you have both a desktop and a laptop?
I have a laptop with a battery that holds no charge, so I just hooked it up to a monitor that is bigger then the one on the laptop.
On June 09 2009 05:29 meathook wrote:
If I were you, I would throw that keyboard away. Those keyboards are small and awkward, the keys are so tightly fitted together it is easy to depress additional keys and miss some when using it. Ugh.
I have that very same mousepad! It worked pretty great in the beginning, not sliding all over the place and everything... now, after a couple of months it is the same as all my other mousepads; it ends up on the floor if a match lasts more than 15 minutes.
While I wouldn't go to the extreme of throwing this keyboard away I am noticing that I have been miss pressing buttons alot on it. I'm not sure if that is just because I am used to using the keyboard on my laptop still.
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On June 09 2009 06:50 Flow.of.soul wrote:
While I wouldn't go to the extreme of throwing this keyboard away I am noticing that I have been miss pressing buttons alot on it. I'm not sure if that is just because I am used to using the keyboard on my laptop still.
Get a normal-sized keyboard. That specific keyboard is designed to be compact, which will only make SC harder as you are bound to keep missing keys. Plus, look at where the F keys are - they are hugging the number keys.
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I have the same keyboard.
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16934 Posts
Hmm, I'm actually using my laptop keyboard on my T61.
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remember, always have a plan (or strat) before u go into the game.
# 1 piece of advice right there. Macro and micro and wtvr all fall under this
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Does anyone have tips on how to micro goons? I've constantly been losing games I should have won because my opponent has superior goon micro.
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Please, if you hold your gaming dear, get rid of the wireless mouse. Get a USB mouse if you have to (since you are using a laptop; for a desktop, a wired optical mouse is the best choice), but get rid of the wireless one. Wireless mouses are horrible for gaming since they sometimes tend to fail in their performance. USB mouses are somewhat similar, but it happens less often.
On June 09 2009 11:41 Flow.of.soul wrote:
Does anyone have tips on how to micro goons? I've constantly been losing games I should have won because my opponent has superior goon micro.
Crescendo talks about that in his PvT guide. Basically, you need to keep your Dragoons spread out so that as many of them as possible are actually firing. You do that by right-clicking at a somewhat distant location (which forces the Dragoons to form a line) and then A-moving towards the direction you want them to engage the enemy. Also, when pursuing/retreating (except when retreating against Dragoons), move short distances and use Hold position to take potshots. Obviously, there is more micro you can do, but that is the pure basics of it.
Since I am the worst StarCraft player in history, take my advice with a grain of salt. But if you ignore all the rest, just remember to concentrate primarily on macro. A lot of the player at this stage have very poor macromanagement, meaning that having superior macro will win you the majority of your games. Overall, just do not be stupid like me and allow yourself to have ten thousand minerals in your bank. -.-
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EPT![[image loading]](http://img44.imageshack.us/img44/5278/1001300.jpg)
